Let’s Dance

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Went with a friend to dance last night, and I am super sore. Slept in, too, so it’ll be a late night tonight, but it’s that good kind of pain when you’re bumpin’ and groovin’ and shakin’ it. The thing is, the dance is “Zumba” but it wasn’t. Not really. This was extraordinarily organic, fluid, and incorporated hip-hop, too. And I loved it. The class instructor is named “Monica,” and she’s an inspiration. Dropped 77 pounds and cured herself of Type 2 Diabetes.

But what was really noticeable to me, were the people in this room. All colors. All shapes. All sizes. All ages. And it’s been a while since I’ve gotten that. My local gym, being a smaller room as opposed to a giant center, gets that, too. And it’s the way I want to groove and move, because when I’m not surrounded by super-fit hyper-marketers — then I have more fun. I guess there’s a ton of other women that agree with me, too, because that’s pretty much all I heard. Down with the super-fit hyper-marketing to make me feel bad about how my body is shaped now. Up with the positive reinforcement to move how I want to on my terms, and be motivated by somebody who’s enthusiastic without ramming sales pitches down my throat.

I suppose I could, once again, provide my lamentations that while I love, love, love fashion as art in all its forms — Size 12 should not be considered the XXL on the runway. But that’d just be silly. ‘Cause then I’d just be beyootching instead of doing something about it and I am, in my own way, by dressing the way I want to and incorporating fashion where it’s appropriate.

Just nice to be able to find a place to dance that way, too.

    Mood: Wintermudgeon Squared
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: NOT ENOUGH
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: 60. SERIOUSLY. SIXTY!
    In My Ears: The snow plow
    Game Last Played: War of the North
    Movie Last Viewed: A Good Day To Die Hard
    Latest Artistic Project: Contest design (In progress)
    Latest Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology

Oh, Ye Purse Conundrum

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I hate buying a new purse. I really, really do. The issue isn’t just the design for me, it’s the materials because I can’t justify spending X amount on a design that isn’t intentional, functional, and made well. Lately, it’s also the weight because we’ve cut down our carbon footprint by bringing our own bags and I always, always, always have pen and paper with me at all times. Outside of groceries, most of what I shop for will fit in a purse, anyway — but weight can get to be an issue as well as the price. I have… Um… Not cheap tastes. I’ve spent $20 on a decent purse and $200; but I’m picky.

So, I bought a LeSportSac this time around. No, I did not have one in the 80s. Shut up. And yes, this means I am now old. Why they haven’t come up with a sugar skull pattern yet I’ll never know. (Shhhh… Don’t tell them, either because I just bought a black-and-white design and will likely have glowing red eyes if they put one out in the next few years. That or an ombre. Eesh.)

Pie in the sky? Pick an awesome purse, price no object, that’ll last forever and is pure, 100% bats of awesome?

THIS.

Nightmare Before Christmas Bag

Mega huge props to Disney for partnering with Harvey. (There are several other Nightmare Before Christmas purses you can find here, too.) For those of you who don’t know, the Harvey purses are made out of seat belts. Brilliant, well designed. Love, love, love. Just wasn’t in the budget.

    Mood: Responsible
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Caffeine at the ready. Deadlines at the helm.
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Blargh.
    In My Ears: A soundtrack I can’t properly pronounce. (It’s in Japanese.)
    Game Last Played: Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed
    Movie Last Viewed: The Warrior’s Way
    Latest Artistic Project: SHINIES. Still need to take pics…
    Latest Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology

Empty Head

Hellboy Avatar

I wrote about 3,000 words this morning and edited another 5K. All very deep and esoteric — plus I wrote a song. The 1800s-era tune is related to The Queen of Crows. When in doubt, go interstitial! Hoping to get the sheet music down; have to book at trip to the Madison Music Foundry to make that happen.

It’s cold, the house is quiet, and I’ve got some new music recommendations from my brother I’m drowning in. (Bat for Lashes and the dear SO also approves.) I’m super close to putting on a scarf and my voice is going, but I’m just shy of center. My creativity is exploding. My consulting techniques are improving, and my focus is getting sharper.

All in all, I have no complaints. Like I said last week, life takes a weird turn, and I turn to all my arts, because they give back to me. Just a lot on the agenda, including a class for basic macrame, and no time for sniffles or sneezing. Feh. But, there it goes. Sniffling. Sneezing. A shot of something or other in my coffee. (Okay, you got me. It’s whiskey.) But, the speakers are on maximum, my pitches are beginning to come to fruition, and there’s definitely more to be edited, written, polished, and consulted.

I’m actually drawing back on marketing-related updates to the website and will likely do that once a quarter. Right now, I’m more concerned with getting new stories and projects out the door. The best way to keep up on what’s happening, of course, will be here and Twitter. Facebook when I’m not annoyed with it. And yeah, I can get VERY annoyed with it. 🙂

Sigh. Twitter. I swear, for as much as I get out of it, every time I turn around there’s something else to be frustrated about. So…. change topic to Alexander McQueen: I WANT THIS! And, well… If I had to be honest… About half the jewelry on this page in particular — as many designs relate to skulls. Hee. Okay, pie in the proverbial sky? Isn’t this the most kick-ass riding jacket you’ve ever seen? LOVE.

Also, would like to point out Maybelline has some smashing nail colors for Spring. Very happy with their “Sapphire Siren” and “Go Go Green.” (Remember, cats and kittens… I always wear more than one at a time…)

Screw it. I’m dropping by Sephora sooner rather than later.

    Mood: Eyebrow raise. Pretty much been that way ALL day.
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: I gave up soda, so hit the ginseng yesterday. And then I broke down and had a soda. So, once again, trying to be good today. I have new coffee!
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: WHY IS IT SO COOOOOOLLLLLLDDDDDDDD?
    In My Ears: “Milano” by Utopia
    Game Last Played: Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed
    Movie Last Viewed: Empire Strikes Back
    Latest Artistic Project: SHINIES. Still need to take pics…
    Latest Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology

Ah, Chainmaille.

Celtic Wheel

In the “useful skills to survive a zombie apocalypse” category, I’ve acquired chainmaille-making skills, focusing on aluminum rings. (Which, incidentally, are a HECK of a lot lighter than other metals.) The trick to bending and weaving appropriately, is to a) be a touch obsessive-compulsive b) have the proper tools and c) realize that yes, indeed. Size does matter.

Anything seed bead or ring or component-related requires proper measurements to ensure that the elements fit together. (If seed beads or crystals aren’t cut precisely, it can throw a pattern off, too.) The important thing to remember with rings is that math is important! There is the inside diameter, outside, and gauge of wire to consider. Not to mention, what type of weave (4-in-1, Persian, Japanese chainmaille, etc.) you want to make.

There are tons of patterns you can explore for armor, jewelry, sculptures, and yes, the dreaded chainmaille bikini. (Though, why anyone would want to wear that much metal to cover their private bits is beyond me. Think about it. Metal is a conductor so if it gets hot? Well, you get the idea.)

But I digress. There’s a few books on the subject for jewelry-making purposes that are pretty outstanding. Classic Chain Mail Jewelry, which highlights my favorite weave — Byzantine — includes a ton of ideas for earrings, bracelets, necklaces and the like. There’s also an international organization of chainmaille specialists (http://www.mailleartisans.org) that offer a variety of weaves for you to peruse.

Rubber rings have been slowly added into chainmaille jewelry patterns for the past few years and I’ve dabbled a bunch with these. Link It! has some stunning designs that require bending and twisting — but again. Size matters, especially when you’re bending and twisting rings into submission. (Sigh. I’m behind on a challenge with these. I received a packet of teeny tiny rubber rings that resemble mold. Still haven’t done anything with those yet. Though I fear I should…)

Materials can get somewhat expensive especially if you’re working with natural metals (e.g. gold, silver, etc.) I focus on aluminum, copper, and rubber primarily, but the biggest trick I’ve learned to reduce cost of materials is to have a pattern that you want to make and budget for 10% extra (in case you screw up). Buying rings for the sake of purchase can put a real dent in your budget.

Bonus achievement unlocked! Don’t think I’ll have to spend much time researching types of weaves (and what they look like) for any story of mine. Though, the only real ditty I’m missing is what era these individual basic patterns hail from. (Chainmaille in general dates back to 400 B.C. and there are over 1,000 weaves documented.) Which is funny, because you’d “think” there’d be a historical book on the topic, but alas… Likely in the armor section.

    Mood: Inquisitive with a side of eyebrow raise.
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: *ERROR* *ERROR* Does not compute. *ERROR*
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Some monstrosity of an elliptical machine.
    In My Ears: Come Back To Me Janet Jackson
    Game Last Played: Tetris
    Movie Last Viewed: Resident Evil: Apocalypse
    Latest Artistic Project: Holiday gifts
    Latest Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology

Green Timekeeping

Another Christmas has come and gone, and this year’s presents included an eco-friendly watch from Sprout. Mine (which isn’t pictured on the company’s website) is a purple cotton band, a purple and white face, with a black raven sitting on a branch.

I’ll likely doctor up the lavender band a touch with these paint markers and either add some scrollwork or branches and more crows/magpies/ravens. The band is a bit “too” simple for my tastes. The watch is, indeed, eco-friendly. A bamboo dial, plastic made out of corn resin, and a cotton band. (Also: allergy-free.) The box I can turn into a mini-garden; it even came with a packet of grass!

I have a solar-powered affair, a white watch from Casio, but I’m always forgetting how to ensure the date/time are correct. (Which is funny, considering there’s even an eHow article on the subject.) And another art watch that’s so springy (the season, not the bounce), my wrist turns green when I wear it.

Haven’t really worn a watch much last year but — and this is a big “but” I suppose — wearing one means I don’t have to check my phone and, subsequently, get distracted by other notifications when I see the time. Being plugged in is a necessity for what I do, so it’s something I have to manage. After all, writing and beading and art — in any capacity — requires little to no internet, unless I’m using search for reference material.

To wear or not to wear… A watch. That is the debate.

    Mood: Post hot buttered rum blah.
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Enough to counteract the millions of pounds of fudge I ate.
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Da gym. (Not to be confused with da bears.”
    In My Ears: Willie Defeated the Batman Beyond soundtrack
    Game Last Played: Tetris
    Movie Last Viewed: Resident Evil: Apocalypse
    Latest Artistic Project: Holiday gifts
    Latest Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology
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